PORT TOWNSEND — Four people charged with first-degree assault in connection with the October stabbing of a 26-year-old man during a fight over $20 pleaded guilty on Friday to the lesser charge of second-degree assault.
A fifth man held in connection with the stabbing has pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault and will stand trial Jan. 3.
The four defendants whose guilty pleas were accepted by Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Craddock Verser during a pretrial hearing on Friday are Kellee Farfan, 19, of Port Townsend; James Hansen, 18, of Port Townsend; Ryan Hausenfluck, 19, of Marysville; and Camron Jevne, 19, of Port Townsend.
Ryan Baker, 19, of Poulsbo faces a life prison term and/or $50,000 fine if found guilty in connection with the stabbing of Tomas Hezina.
The stabbing of Hezina occurred at about 3 a.m. Oct. 20 in the courtyard of Hancock Street Apartments in Port Townsend.
Police say Hezina suffered five stab wounds to the neck and chest.
Jevne posted bail
Unlike Jevne, who posted $50,000 bail on Nov. 15, the three other defendants have been held at Jefferson County Jail in Port Hadlock since Oct. 20.
“He apparently is up and walking around, but still has loss of vision,” said Shane Seaman, Jefferson County deputy prosecutor, when Verser asked about Hezina’s condition.
Beginning with Farfan, the four defendants went before Verser one-by-one, each with a different lawyer.
Verser made sure they all knew the maximum penalty for second-degree assault is 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
Verser said that if any of the four defendants commit two similar violent crimes in the future, they could spend the rest of their lives in jail. He also said they are not to possess firearms.
Sentences recommended
Seaman recommended that each of the defendants receive between a three- and nine-month sentence, but said six months was the preferred sentence.
“I could sentence you to nine months if I wanted to and there’s nothing you could do about it,” Verser said to the four defendants.
Farfan’s sentencing date will be Dec. 23. Hansen and Hausenfluck’s sentencing date was set for Dec. 30 and Jevne’s is Feb. 10.
The four will testify in Baker’s trial that was originally set for Dec. 19.
Baker’s lawyer, Richard Davies, asked Verser for an extension.
“I’m not ready to go to trial,” Davies said.
“There’s still evidence out there.”
